Robins rocking - Sids slip

Matt Docherty, James Wilson (centre) and team congratulate Graeme Dowden (11) after scoring Bosham's second / Picture by Kate Shemilt

Published:14:00Friday 03 March 2017

Share this article

Bosham are back on track but Sidlesham have slipped up.

Here are the latest reports from our local SCFL division two teams.

Don’t miss the Observer every Thursday for all the local football reports, pictures, tables, fixtures and results.

Bosham 4 Worthing Town Leisure 0

SCFL division two

Bosham got back to winning ways with a comfortable home win against a determined Worthing Town Leisure side.

It wiped away the memories of their cup defeats and extended their lead to eight points at the top of division two with rivals Sidlesham losing at Lancing United.

Bosham started quickly and after only four minutes broke the deadlock through the ever-impressive Louis Bell. They forced a corner on the right and Marco Giambelardini supplied a superb ball to Bell on the edge of the area. He turned and fired home to put the Reds in front.

Worthing probed away trying to find a way back into the game and both Richard Ghent and Steve Kirkham went close but returning Bosham keeper Sam Joyce was able to deal with the opportunities.

Close to the half-hour the Robins doubled their lead with a sumptuous strike from Graeme Dowden. Bradley Miles worked an opening and slid the ball through perfectly for Dowden to run on to and drive the ball home past the stranded Daryl Ashworth in the Worthing goal.

Bosham continued to press and almost on half-time they added a third. This time Giambelardini picked up the ball on the edge of the area and danced past a couple of players and then turned on a sixpence to fire home, wrongfooting Ashworth and sealing a terrific first half for the Reds.

Jake Lafferty came on for the restart, replacing Giambelardini and instantly injecting his flamboyant style on the match.

The substitute’s quality had Worthing back-pedalling at times but the chances created went awry.

On the hour Miles grabbed the goal his strong performance deserved. Charlie Cooper pushed hard down the right and swung a teasing ball into the area which Miles met with a sweet half-volley, leaving Ashworth rooted to the spot.

With the news filtering through of their rivals losing, the feeling was one of satisfaction at a job well done.

Next up for the Robins is the visit of Alfold to Walton Lane on Saturday.

Sidlesham were disappointed to slip to only their third league defeat of the season at Lancing.

With the wind and bumpy pitch not helping them, Sidlesham struggled to come to terms with a strong Lancing side.

Sidlesham threatened first but Callum Dowdell just failed to get on the end of Tom Bayley’s through ball.

Lancing threatened with their lively striker causing the defence a problem with unselfish running and work-rate - and but for keeper Henry Madgwick producing a good stop, Lancing would have opened the scoring sooner than they did.

They did go ahead when a wind-assisted free-kick from deep out wide wasn’t cleared, leaving Neil Munday to pounce.

When sidlesham did get the ball down and play, they caused problems for the home side. Tom Kelly had a chance to level but pulled his shot wide.

Lancing added to their tally when Munday raced on to a through-ball and lifted it over the keeper.

The second half saw Sidlesham begin to force the home side back, with Dowdell and Bayley both having half-chances saved and one effort ruled out for offside.

Sidlesham got one back when John Phillips was fouled in the box and Bayley made no mistake from the spot.

They were level when Bayley scored after turning his marker in the box and firing home.

Another long ball into the Sids box from a free-kick caused the defence a problem and Joe Leggatt was adjudged to have left his foot high on the forward, with the ref pointing to the spot.

Although Madgwick went the right way and got a hand on the kick, Mark Nixon’s spot-kick hit the post and came back off him and rolled agonisly over the line.

Sidlesham are back on their travels on Saturday with a visit to Westfield in the league.